Former New Orleans Saints defensive tackle La'Roi Glover said he lost more than just a former teammate when Norman Hand died Friday after collapsing in his South Carolina home at the age of 37.

Michael DeMocker/The Times-Picayune archiveNew Orleans Saints defenders Norman Hand, La'Roi Glover and Joe Johnson led a dominating defense under Jim Haslett. "He'll definitely be sorely missed," said Glover, who played alongside Hand in New Orleans from 2000-2001. "He was a great guy, he was a great teammate. We had a lot of fun together during the time I was a part of the organization and we were there together.

"I think we lost a friend. Obviously we lost a teammate, but you build these relationships in football and they transcend even what you do on the field, even into retirement. It's a fraternity, a brotherhood. And we lost a brother.

"As far as a football standpoint, he was probably the biggest factor to my individual success in that 2000 season. When you have a good nose guard, not only does it make (the other tackle's) job easier, it makes things easier for everybody on the defense. ... He was sort of an unsung hero."